Lasting machine



A. PERRL LASTING MACHINE. APPUCATION FILED AUG 14,19l9.

Patented June 20, 1922.

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LA STING MACHINE. APPI iQATI ON FILE-D AUG-14,1919.

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Patented June 20, 1922.

A. PERRI.

LASTING MACHINE.

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A. PERRI.

LASTING MACHINE.

APPLiCATlON FILED AUG.14, I919.

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LASTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 14, 1919.

Patented June 20, 1922'.

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A. PERRI, LASTINGMAGHINL.

A. PERRI.

LAS'HNG MACHINE.

APPLICATlON FILED AUG.14, 1919.

Patented June 20, 1922;

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ANGELO PEER I, OF WATERTOVVN. 'MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR :TO REECE SHOEMIACHINERY COMPANY, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS,

MAINE.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, ANGELO PERRI, a citizenof the United States, residing at Vatertown, in the county of Middlesexand State of Massachusetts, have invented a new and useful LastingMachine, of which the following is a specification, reference being hadtherein to the accompanying drawing.

This invention is a novel shoe lasting machine. By lasting is understoodeither or both of the following steps, namely, pullingover the softleather of the shoe upper at the front and sides near the toe, toconform with the last, and wiping or smoothing the margins of the upperabout the last at the toe end, and usually at the heel end also. Thepresent machine may be compared with my prior Patent No. 1,260,034,patented March 19, 1918, and isof the same class, embodyingpulling-overmechanism, toe wiping mechanism and heel wiping mechanism, also a shoeholding device or jack shiftable to change the shoe position after thepullingover, so as to co-operate advantageously with the wipingmechanism. Herein I use the word position in the same sense as in the.prior patent, namely, to refer either to the posture of the shoe or itslocation.

The main object of the present invention is to afford a machine andmechanism for performing the lasting operations upon a shoe in a moreefiicient and more convenient manner and. with better results in theproduet. Specifically it is an object hereof to improve as a whole theclass of machine illustrated in said prior patent. including theshiftable jack and the relation of the same to the pulling-over andwiping mechanisms. A further object is to improve the pulling-overmechanism per se, the same hav ing utility irrespective of thejaclr andwip ing mechanisms. Other and more particular objects and advantages ofthe present invention will be made clear in the hereinafterfollowingdescription of an embodiment thereof or will be apparent to thoseskilled in the art.

To the attainment of the objects mentioned, the present inventionconsists in the novel machine. mechanisms, combinations, devices andarrangements herein illustrated. described or claimed. For conveniencethe shoe will be designated in. the drawings by A CORPORATION OF LASTINGMACHINE.

Specification of letters Patent. Patented June 20 1922 Application filedAugust 14, 1919. Serial No. 317,498. I

the letter S and when there is adistinction the toe wipingmechanismherein indicated are not herein made the subject of claim ofinvention, and the same may besaid of the heel wiping mechanism hereinshown; these matters for convenience being made the subject ofc0-pending applications, showing and claiming the principles, structureand details more fully.

In the accompanying drawings, Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a lastingmachine'embodying the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a vertical section of certain details of thezmain pedalconnections. 2 r

Fig. 3 is a left side. elevation of the machine shown in Fig. 1, theheel wiping mechanism, which is behind the toe wiping mechanism. beingomitted. I

In Figs. 1 and 3 the parts are shown in their position after a rightshoe S has been pulled over and engaged'by the shifting jack,

' but before the release of'the shoe from the pulling-over mechanism andits shifting into wiping position. i

Fig. 4 on a larger scale shows the pullingover mechanism in the sameview as in Fig. 3, working on a right shoe.

Figs. 5 and 6 are'details taken respectively on-the sections 5-'5 and 66of Fig. 4.

Fig. 7 is a'frontelevation of the pullingover mechanism shown in Fig. 4.

Fig. 8 is a similar view showing the parts reversed for a left shoe.

Fig. 16 is a front elevation of certain details of the puller reversingmechanism.

The remaining figures have more particu larly to do with the shiftablejack by which the pulled-over shoe is shifted to wiping position.

Fig. 17 is a front elevation embodying parts of Fig. 1. but omittin thepullingover mechanism and showing the jack and shoe shifted frompulling-over position to a second or intermediate position. as ispreferred. although the shifting might be arranged to pass directly tothe third position by a compound movement.

Fig. 18 is a view similar to Fig. 17' showing the jack and shoe shiftedto the final or wiping position in relation to the toe wiping at theleft and heel wiping mechanism at the right.

Fig. 19 is an enlarged front elevation of a portion of the jackillustrating particularly the shoe holding clamp. This shows the jack inthe same intermediate position as in Fig. 17.

Fig. 20 is a right elevation of the mechanism shown in Fig. 19.

Fig. 21 is a plan view of certain details. partly in section on theplane 21-21 of Fig. 20.

Fig. 22 is a view oi? the same parts shown in Figs. 19 and 20, in rightelevation, partly in central section on the plane 22-22. of

Fig. 19.

Fig. 23 is a trout view. partly in elevation and partly in section onthe plane 23-23 of Fig. 20.

Fig. 24 is a front elevation of a detail, namely. the toe clamping padshown in Figs. 1.9. 20 and 22.

Fig. 25 is a front view of a modification of the device 253 shown inFigs. 19. etc. 7

The several component mechanisms which together make up the completemachine are shown in a general way in their co-operative relations inFigs. 1. 3. 17 and 18.. The relative arrangements of the severalmechanisms will first he described. and subsequently the structure andoperation of the respective mechanisms. The machine and its operationare such that the operator may stand in one place in front of themachine throughout the lasting process on each shoe; the shoe'beingeasily accessible in its pulling and wiping positions. and the variouscontrolling. adjusting and operating levers. wheels and the like beingeasily reached by hand or foot. The main frame or base 37 of the machineis shown as provided with an upstanding bracket 38. which supports thejack and pulling-over mechanism. similarly. in a general way. to myprior Patent No. 1.260.034. At the left and right ends of the base areextensions 39 and 410.. above which are supported the heel and toewiping mechanisms respectively. The general location o'f tie shoeholding jack 43 is between the heel and toe wiping heads and 46, beneathand forward of the gripper devices of the pulling-over mechanism 42; itsshoe clamping portion swinging from in front of the grippers forwardlyand downiwirdly to a position between the wiping mechanisms. asindicated in the figures.

The initial or pulling position of the shoe is as shown in Figs. 1. 3.4- and 7, with its toe end pointing upwardly and the sole or bottom ofthe last facing rearwardly from the operator. The initial location ofthe shoe ishigher than its final or wiping location. so that aspermitted by the illustrated jack. the. shifting of the shoe brings itirom the higher to the lower level. thus giving the greatest convenienceto the operator in both the pulling and the wiping operations. Figs. 17.19 and 20 show the intermediate position of the shoe and jack theyhaving swung downwardly and forwardly. The next shift is aswinging tothe right of the shoe heel. so that the shoe and clamp take the final orwiping position shown in Fig. 18. The shoe is here inverted. and the forpart of the last is substantially horizontal. with the toe end at theleft andthe heel end at the right in proper relations to the toe andheel wiping mechanisms 46 and 4-5. l Vhile the shoe rests in theintermediate position of Fig. 17, the operator may if desired performthe socalled side lasting operations, which are usually hand operationsreadily performed at this stage of the lasting process.

Before describing the full operation and structure ot the differentmechanisms. pulling. jack and wiping, I will state the following novelfeatures of inter-relation. In the use of the machine herein illustratedthe shoe initially is positioned by the operator with reference to theposition of the pulling-- over grippers. As shown in Fig. 3. the shoe isbrought up to the toe gripper and set be tween the side grippers. Theshoe at this time is held against the shoe rest or abutment. which isbetween the gripping mechanisms, and it is not yet engaged by the jackclam). as shown in Fig. 3. In the prior patent the shoe was set to agiven height with respect to the jack clamp. and the gripping mechanismwas bodily adjusted vcrti cally to the shoe. The present machine is animprovement in that the pulling mechanism requires no verticaladjustment for ditferent lengths of shoe, the shoe being set to themechanism as just described. When the pulling has been completed. thejack, which meanwhile has remained in its lowered or wiping position. isswung up and the toe pad of the jack clamp comes into position at apredetermined height against the top of the shoe toe. The position orheight of the toe pad is initially set in accordance with thepulling-over mechanism. "The heel-end oi the shoe is required to besupported, and the jack comprises a heel spindle adapted to shoe.

enter and engage'the last within the shoe. This in the present machineis adjustable longitudinally in the jack, that is, vertically whenapplying the jack to the pulled-over Then the toe clamp and the heelspindle have been set and the shoe secured, the pullers may release theshoe, and the jack and shoe may be swung down frontward through 90, thetoe pointing front as in Fig. 17. Another feature is that the subsequentswinging of the shoe to set it to the wiping mechanisms is a swingingabout an. axis substantially at the middle of the toe end of the shoe,as will be clear in Figs. 18 and 22. In other words, the shoe heel andthe heel spindle are to be swung around from the rear to the right, sothat the shoe shifts from the Fig. 17 to the Fig. 18 position when it isin readiness for the wiping operations.

it the front of the machine are shown three pedals, 18, 49 and 50,, eachhaving a spring normally lifting it. Pedal 48, after the lasting of ashoe is completed, serves towholly release the shoe from the jack andrestore the latterrto condition ready to be elevated to receive the nextshoe from the pulling-over mechanism. Y

The central pedal 49'isfor applying by foot the pulling force, itsimultaneously operating the pulling grippers at the sides and end ofthe shoe toe. This pedal when depressed is locked in place, and theright pedal 50 serves the purpose of unlocking the main pedal when thepulling is finished.

Before describing the pulling connections from the main pedal thelockingof the latter may be conveniently explained. Fig. 3 shows that the pedal49 isfulcrumed at the far rear at 51. About one-third of its length fromthis point extend the connections to the pullers. About one-third of itslength from the front is thefollowing looking mechanism. A serrated rod52 is fat crumed to the pedal and extends upwardly to a point within abarrel 5-3, seen also in Fig. 2. At the top of the rod 52 is a head 54sliding vertically in the barrel, and between the head and the bottom ofthe barrel is a compressed spring 55. The barrel is substantially fixed.but a slight swinging permitted to adapt it to. the movements of thepedal. by reason of a fulcrum 56, connecting the top of the barrel to aprojection on the base 37 of the machine. Vhen the pedal is depressed,the descending head .54- compresses the spring 55. which tends to reacton release of the pedal to-restore it to its raised position. It will beunderstood that the pedal will be depressedto varyin extents withdifferent shoes, the shoes being pulled over under observation. It isdesir able tolock the pedal in its lowermost position, and this iseffected through'the teeth arranged along the length of the rod 52. Nearthe bottom of the barrel 53 is a pawl 57 slid-- ing horizontally in afixed guide. A centrally pivoted lever 58' is connected to the.

eration is performed by the separate individual levers at the top of themachine. lVhen the pulling-over is completed, and the jack has beenengaged with the shoe, it'is necessary to release the pulling mechanismand permit the opening of the grippers thereof. The pedal 50 serves thispurpose. hen depressed it acts through pedal rod 60' to swing a bellcrank lever 61, shown in Fig. 1, the free extremity of this pressing lefwardly against the upper end of the lever 58] By this the depression ofthe puller unlocking pedal 50 removes the pawl 57 from the'toothed rod.52, permitting the spring 55 to assert itself and restorethe main-pedal49 to its upp r position.

When the pulling pedal 49 is; depressed, this serves to clos and pullrearwardlyall of the pulling grippers, of which three are shown, one atthe extreme toe,and one at each of the two sides of the shoe inproximity to the toe; and these willbe termed the toe gripper 64, theleft side gripper 65 and the right side gripper 66, respectively. It

will be convenient to describe the construcand. return movements,-before describing the connections from the pedal 49. During the pullingthe shoe, or rather the insole beneath the wooden last, bears againstasystem of abutments, threebeing shown, these herein associatedrespectively with the three grippers, namely, the toe abutment 68, the,

left side abutment 69 and the-right side abutment 7O.

The toe gripper 64 consists,. as seen in Fig.4 of a forwardly andrearwardly sliding shank 72. engaged in a rear bearing 73 and a frontbearing 74, while a spring 75 between bearing 73 anda collar-on theshank tends to press' forwardly "the gripper. The spring acting to throwthe shanlrforwardly shifts forward and opens the gripper. this actionbeing limited by the contact of the'collar with the bearing/74."

The gripper itself is at the forward end of theshank .72, and consistsof a front jaw 76,' mounted on theshank, and area'r jaw 77 pivoted tothe shank and having its upward extension pivoted to a longitudinal bar78, which maybe termed the tail of the gripper, it serving whenpulled'rearwardly to swing the rear jaw, and thereby close the gripper.- Thegripper closing tail 78 isv formed with a hook or notch at 79, engagingon a lug or block 80, loosely surrounding the gripper shank 72 andhaving lateral pins 81 by which the block may be shifted longitudinallyof the shank.

It will be obvious that, if theblock 80 is forced rearwardly whileengaged by the book 79, this will first effect the closing of thegripper upon the upper of the shoe, and its continued rear motion will,against the resistance of spring 75, retract the entire toe gripper,thus giving the desired pulling action.

It will be convenient at this point to explain the pedal connections forthis purpose. Referring to Fig. 4 in connection with Figs. 3 and 9, anupright connecting rod 84 is shown extending from the pedal lever 49 toa bell crank 85, by which the downward pedal pull is converted into aforward motion of three parallel rods 86, each serving as a connectionbetween the bell crank 85 and a lever 87, of which there are three, asseen in Fig. 9. fulcrumed at a higher point 88. A strong but adjustablespring 89 is interposed between each rod 86 and lever 87 in order tolimit the total pulling pressure upon the leather. which without aresilient connection might be unduly stretched and injured by the pedalaction.

The three levers 87 at their upper ends have three separate upwardextensions, 91 in the center. 92 at the left and 93 at the right,respectively, for communicating the pulling force to the three grippers,respectively. Inasmuch as the grippers are shiftable for right and leftshoes, or for adjust ment. or both, the lever extensions 91. 92 and 93are rendered adjustable or adaptable thereto by their being fulcrumed at94 to the levers 87, respectively. The extension 91 for the central ortoe gripper is formed with a yoke 95 surrounding the block 80. beforementioned, and engaging the pins 81 thereof, so that the rearwardmovement of the lever pulls rearwardly on the bloek to close and pullthe gripper, as described. Fig. 9 shows that the extensions 92 and 93have similar yokes 95. performing analogous functions for the left andright side grippers. The toe gripper lever has an upwardly extendinghandle 96, by which the gripper can be additionally manipulated afterthe pedal operation is completed and the pedal locked downward. Similarhandles 97 and 98 for the left and right sides grippers are provided.but not directly on the lever extensions 92 and 93, but through hubs 99extending from th transmitting levers to the handle levers, as shown inFig. 9.

Each of the three grippers. in addition to the adjustments to thedescribed, is capable of a bodily shifting or swinging motion adaptingit alternately to right and left shoes. The nature and extent of theadjustment of each is dissimilar, and they are, therefore, separatelymounted and fitted for this purpose. The toe gripper has the greatestamount of shift for reversing the machine, and this motion and thefittings will be described before describing the side grippers and theirmovements.

The toe gripper is carried bodily on a composite frame, which is mountedto swing about a point approximately at the ball of the shoe. Fig. 7shows the gripper set for a right shoe, and Fig. 8 shows the same reversed for a left shoe. The reversing motion is about a center or axisdetermined by the fulcrum rod or axle 101, supported in a stationaryhead 102. At the front end of the axle are the following. Extendingupwardly from it is a rod 104, on which slides a sleeve 105, carryingthe toe abutment 68 before mentioned. A spring 106 presses the sleeveand abutment upwardly against a stop or pin 107, mounted at theunderside of the forwardly extending part of the beaaring 74 of the toegripper shank before mentioned. By this arrangement the toe abutmentalways takes its correct position both vertically and laterally.Extending downwardly from the axle 101 is a bar 103, having at its lowerend a switch cam device, whereby the pulling-over mechanism isautomatically reversed after operations on each shoe, as laterdescribed.

The axle 101 of the toe gripper system extends through the head 102, andat rearward points is provided with the following. An upwardly extendingbracket 109 affords a fulcrum 110, about which the entire toe gripperwith its .slide bearings 73 and 74 may be tilted or vertically swung. Asseen in Fig. 4, the bearings 73 and 74 are rigidly connected, forming asort of frame, and by lifting the rear end of this frame the toe grippercan be slightly lowered to bring it into correct relations with the sidegrippers. This initial adjustment may be effected by an adjusting device111,comprising right and left threaded rods entering a threaded wheel,which can be turned to raise or lower the rear bearing 73, thus swingingthe frame and tilting the gripper, as stated. It will be noted that theyoke 95, see Fig. 3, is slotted to permit the pins 81 on the block atthe rear end of the gripper shank to be vertically adjusted. The entiredescribed system also may swing to right or left, the actuating lever 91being fulcrumed, as already explained, to permit its swinging toaccommodate this reversing action.

When the described toe gripper system is swung from right to left orvice versa, the extreme positions are determined by stop devices, shownin Fig. 7. On the stationary head 102 is slidingly arranged a left stop113 and a right stop 114. Engaging in both of these is a right and leftscrew 115 having at its central )art a ositionin collar 1 C7 116, heldagainst longitudinal play. At its right extremity the threaded rod has Aa thumb nut 117, which may be turned to symmetrically separate or drawtogether the stops 113, 114, so that they maybe set to suit the shoebeing lasted.

I prefer that the described mechanism be automatically reversed afterthe lasting of each shoe. To assist this purpose a device may beemployed for automatically restoring the downwardly extending bar 1O3 toa vertical or central position whenever it is free. Such a device isindicated conventionally by the opposite springs 119. A the foot of thisbar, as before stated, is a switch cam device taking part in thereversing operation. This is seen in Fig. 7, and in plan view or diagramin Fig. 10. The switch cam is centrally pivoted at the foot of the bar,and has a wedge portion 120 directed rearwardly, and at each side thecam or reversing portions 121, 122.1 This device co-operates with aslidingcam12at, shown also in Fig. l, mounted to slide forwardly andrearwardly within the open portion of the upwardly extending bracket 38of the machine. The forward end of this cam or wedge is pointed, and isdirected toward the pivot of the switch cam 120. The sliding cam hasinvariably a straight forward and rearward movement, being normallypulled rearwardly by a spring 125. But the switch cam is centrallypivoted and capable of a slight oscillation so that its wedge or point120 may pass to either one or the other side of the point of the slidingcam. The stop pins indicated in Fig. 10 limit the swing of the; sw tchcam. In this figure the wedge 120 is indicated as slightly to the right,rather'than to the left, of the point of the sliding can The sliding camis pushe'd forward at each down-swinging movement of the jack. namely,by means of a lug 126, adapted to be struck by the counterweight of thejack as the latter comes up and forward into position. It will-beunderstood that the counterweight remains in the position indicated inFig. 4 throughout the pulling-over operation, and only recedes when thejack is swung upwardly to receive the pulled-over shoe. With the partsnormally in the position shown in Fig. 10. the machine justhavingpulled-over a left shoe, the sliding cam. as it comes forward withthe descent of the jack, engages at the left side of the wedge 120. andthis bodily thrusts the switch cam and the carrying bar 103 toward theright. This continues now until the parts come to the dotted lineposition which is shown, and here the pullers stand reversed for theright shoe. It will be noticed thatin going through this action theswitch cam itself is reversed. Its wedge 120, as shown in dotted lines,is

cam, and thus throw the bar 103to the left,

thus setting the machine for a left shoe. When the cam 124 recedes thebar 103 m- .mainsjin its extreme position at one side because atthistime the shoe is in pressing contact against the toe abutment 68. v-To allow for adjustments and prevent breakage, the switch cam isrendered able tof'yieldat strongsprings127 at. the foot of tliebar 103yieldingly holding the switch cam device to its illustrated position,the switch cam the end of its throw by reason, of'apair of beingmounted. to slightly swinger rock about a horizontal axis'for thispurpose.

Ithas been explainedhow the toe abut ment 68 followsthe toe gripper notonly in,

its swinging, but in its up and down adjustment. The side abutments I69and 70 are hereincorrespondingly shifted, so that'duroperation onany'shoe the ing the wipin and near the periphery of the shoe. Thus,

in the planview Fig- 11, the left'side abuts i cram lever will bearagainst the left side gripper 65, thus' bringing the abutment to theproper position.

The side grippers are of as seen in Figs. 11,12 and 13, and elsewhere.The front or outer jaw 131 is almost hook shaped. reaching around infront of the rear or inner jaw 132, the nose of which is suffi'cientlyrounded to prevent injury to the upper U. The two jaws are mounted. on acarrier 133, the outer jaw pivoted to move relatively from and to theother, and an equalizing provision is made for the carrier, as seen inFig, 12, this consisting in parallel links 134:, extending. from theupper and lower parts of the carrier to a centrally pivoted lever 135,connected to the rearwardly extending guide shank 136 corresponding tothe shank 72 of the toe gripper. Between'the members 135, and 136 arethe following.

a special; form,

l'n order tohold the sidegripper approxi 90 abutments willbe spacedatproper distances, i

somewhat in the pulling action, and with perfect equalizing freedom. Themembers 138 and 139 are both mounted on an enlargement or head 136 atthe forward end of the gripper shank 136. In order that the gripper willnot accidentally become rocked away from its illustrated normalposition, the pivoted lever 135 is provided with an extension 140bearing forwardly against an adjustable stop 141 and yieldingly pressedthereto by a spring pin 142, the two last mentioned parts being mountedon the head 136. The equalizing or rocking action is always one in whichthe lower edge of the side gripper retracts further than the upper edge,which latter is at the cap portion of t-he upper and less apt to yield.The device 141, 142, therefore, permitsthe yielding that occurs inpractice, while serving to nor mally restore the parts to the positionshown in Fig. 12.

The side grippers are not only carried by the shanks 136, which guidethem in their retracting and return movement, but they adjustably swingabout these as fulcra in reversing the machine for right or left shoes.Thus, as shown in Figs. 7 and 13, the side grippers are placed for aright shoe, and in Fig. 8 for a left shoe. Each of the axles or shanks136 is mounted in a pair of bear.- ings 143, front and rear, upstandingfrom a carriage 144, and these two carriages, as seen in Fig. 4, have adovetailed connection to the rear side of the stationary head 102. Thisis for the purpose of symmetrical adjustment of the carriages from andtoward each other,.which may be effected by a right and left screw 145,engaging in oppositely threaded lugs 146, and having a thumb nut 147 foreffecting the adjustment for variations in widths of shoes.

The swinging of the side grippers for right and left shoes maybeeffected and controlled as follows. On the reversing axle 101 of the toegripper is mounted an arm 149, as seen in Fig. 16, and arms 150 on theside gripper axles 136 are shown as connected to each other by right andleft threaded rod 154, turned by adjusting nut 155.

Springs 151 connect the arm 150 with the central arm, so that, when thetoe gripper is reversed, the spring at'one side will pull and cause bothside grippers to shift, forenample, into the position shown in Figs. 7.13 and 16. Its extent of shifting is limited by the co-acting stops 152and 1.53, shown in Fig. 13. The side grippers are thus adjusted inconformity to the shoe at the same time that the toe gripper is shiftedacross from the Fig. 7 to the Fig. 8 position.

The side gripper shanks 136, like that of the toe gripper, are providedwith springs 161, pressing forwardly 'on collars so as normally to holdthe side grippers forward and open. Also riding loosely at the rear endof each shank is a block 162, having pins 163, engaged by the yokes 95through which the pulling-over pedal causes the rearward pullingmotions. The shank 136 is merely a guide, and the actual pulling isperformed by the side gripper tail 164, which, as seen in Figs. 4, 11and 12, extends forwardly from the block 162 to the gripper. The tail isarranged to first close the gripper as it starts pulling rearwardly. Thefront or outer gripper jaw 131 normally stands wide open, it beingpivoted on the carrier 133. The hub of the jaw is provided with a fewteeth, engaging corresponding teeth. in the hub of a lever 165,extending outwardly and directly connected to the gripper tail 164. I IBy this arrangement, when the pedal is depressed, the rearward pull onthe tail 164 first closes the gripper, as seen in Fig. 11, and thecontinued movement bodily retracts the gripper, giving the desiredpulling action. 7

Assuming now that the main pedal 49 is lifted and thethree grippers areforward and open, the operator places the shoe approximately as shown inFig. 4, settin the skirts of the upper within the jaws: of the grippers.The width separating the side grippers and the height of the toe gripperwill have been previously adjusted to the style and size of shoe, andother initial adjustments made, after which only the followingoperations need take place. There is no bodily vertical adjustment ofthe pullingover mechanism, according to the length of the shoe, but, onthe contrary, whatever its length, the shoe is set to the grippers. Itis placed with the insole bearing against the three abutments, and theupper within the jaws. By now depressing the main pedal, the three pairsof jaws are first closed and then retracted, iving the desired pullingaction. The equalization of the side grippers prevents unequal pulling.When the pedal has been sufliciently depressed, the foot may be removedand the pedal holds its position. The operator may then manipulate thethree pulling handles 96, 97 and 98 to give exactly the pulling effectsdesired. The jack to be described will now be swung up to the shoe, theheel spindle lifted more or less to engage the socket in the last, andthe shoe firmly clasped and clamped within the jack. A touch on thepedal 50 now releases the main pedal, thus letting all the grippers moveforward and open and release the shoe. The jack will then be swung downand the shoe shifted to wiping position, as will be described. Theswinging down of the jack brings its counterweight up and forward so asto act on the reversing cam shown in Fig. 10, so that it willautomatically throw the three grippers across to their oppositeposition, making them ready for the other shoe of the pair. After thewiping and before the jack is lifted, the other shoe of the pair isplaced in relation to the grippers, and operations repeated.

Coming now to the shoe holding jack, this is shown in its swung-upposition in Figs/1 and 3, and in its swung-down or intermediate positionin Figs. 17, 19, 20, 22 and 23, and in its final or wiping position inFig. 18. The jack mechanism is supported at the free end of a swingingarm 170, fulcrumed at 171 on the upright bracket 38 of the machine.Between the two sides of the bracket is located acounterweight 172, ofsuch form and weight as to substantially balance the jack, thusfacilitating its manual lifting and dropping- At the free end of thejack arm 170 it is enlarged or formed into a head 173, affording supportto practically all of theshoe clamping mechanism of the jack. In orderto position the jack in its swung-down position, the bracket 38 of themachine is formed with a forward extension or web 174, supporting anabutment or contacting piece 175, which is engaged by shoulder 176,formed at the left side of the, free end of the jack arm 170. At thispoint might also be mentioned the hooked member 177, mounted on thejack, adapted to be swung when the shoe is swung, soas to engage in theslot or recess at the upper side of a boss 178, upstanding from theframe of the machine, to position and steady the shoe againstlongitudinal motion.

Supported in the head 173 of the .jack arm is the rotary support 180,this extending forwardly horizontally when the jack is in up-swungposition, and extending downwardly beneath the head 173 when the jack isin wiping position. Therotary support is held in the head by a suitableflange eneath the head 173 when the jack is in wiping position. Therotary support is held in the head by a suitable flange and collar. Atits extremity the rotary supportv 180 rigidly carries a laterallyextendingarm or frame 181,'which issecured by key 182 to the rotarysupport 180. The rotary support carries the toe engaging devices orpads, while the swinging frame 181 carries the underreaching clawdevices that engage the shoe sole, and also the heel engaging spindle.It will be understood that this whole shoe engaging or clamping systemis bodily swingable in the head 173 of the jack arm, the rotary support180 forming its axis. I prefer that the-shoe clamping system shall befreely swingable in the jack arm head, and, as shown in Fig. 3,- thisenables the operator to readily adjust the jack to the shoe which hasbeen pulled over, while, as seen in Figs. 17 and 18, the clampingdevices and shoe are enabled readily to be swung to bring the shoe, intocorrect is swung into wiping position the hook 177 engages inthe fixedgrooveof member 17 8, thus anchoring and steadying the j ack and clampmechanism-against longitudinal displacements during thezwipingoperations.

The toe engaging devices are mountedon what may be termed the upper endof the rotary support 180, it being the upper end when the jack isinwiping position- These comprise a toe pad engaged generally at'184,secured upon the head or block 185, the shank 186 of which extendsconcentrically within the ,recessed interior of the support 180. g Theshankand the support are .keyed together by a key 187, so that all'ofthe shoe engaging parts will swing together as. a single system. Anadjusting screw. 188 enables initial adjustment of the relative positionof the toe-engaging pad to allow for shoes. of different thicknesses.

The details of the toe engaging :pad 184;

are shown in Fig. 24 in connection with Figs. 19, 20 and 22. -Anequalizing or rocking lever 190 is pivoted directly to the block 185,and the extremities of this lever carry a pair of bent levers 191, eachof which carries aninner clamp block 192 and. an outer. clamp block 193,so that we have system of. four self-adjusting clamping blocks bearingagainst the rear face of the leather or other flexible toe clamping padmember 194;. To render the toe clamping device absolutely universal,each of the four blocks 192,192,198, 193, is pivoted to its carryinglever. Thus, the two inner blocks The heel engaging devices are carriedby a sliding carriage 200; well shown in Figs. 20, 22 and 23, thishaving depending side flanges 201 and a dovetail connection 202 with thetop side of the swinging frame 181. The heel spindle carriage 200 isformed with a sleeve or barrel. 203 to contain the spindle. It will beunderstoodthat the carriage is slid along the frameuntil in properposi-.192 have their shanks extending loosely into tion for the spindle toengage the heel end of the last, and when set it maybe locked in placebya device 205.

The heel spindle 207 is slidingly fitted within the sleeve or barrel203. A flange 208 at the top of the spindle prevents it from droppingout of the sleeve. Thespindle is provided with a head 209 at the lowerend, by which it conveniently may be thrust into shoe engaging position.A spring 210 between the head 209 and the sleeve tends to retract thespindle from the shoe. in order to lock the spindle into engagement withthe last, it is formed with teeth or serrations 211, engaged by a pawl212, the tail 213 of which is formed with an inclined or cam surface to'co-operate in retracting the pawl, which is spring pressed, toward theteeth of the spindle. For swinging the pawl to unlock the spindle afterthe completion of shoe, a sliding rod 214 is provided, mounted in thecarriage 200, and, as will be later described, this unlocking rod isadapted to be lifted by the depression of the pedal 48 after the wipingof a shoe.

After the toe pad 184 and the heel spindle 207 have been engaged withthe shoe, pair of claws or hooks 217 are brought into action against thesole of the shoe to. press the shoe forcibly in position to the toe padand heel spindle, and thereby rigidly clamp the shoe in the jack. lVhenthe jack is swung up to the Fig. 3 position in readiness to engage theshoe after the pullingover, the claws 217 extend substantially as shownin Fig. 3 in readiness to be swung together and pulled forwardly asstated. The fittings and operating devices for the claws will now bedescribed.

Each claw is mounted on a pivoted shank 218, these shanks being pivotedto a sliding sleeve 219, which surrounds the rotary support 180 andgives guidance to the claws in their forward and rearward movement. InFigs. 1.9, 20 and 22, the sleeve and claws are shown in their retractedor forwardly drawn position. Normally they will be in the oppositeposition. The guide sleeve 219 has lateral ears 220'to which the shanks218 of the claws are pivoted, and from the pivot the shanks are bent orformed with feet 221, extending toward each other so as to bothoperatively engage an actuating member 222, which by its relativemovements is capable of thrusting the claws apart or together.

The member 222, which is connected to the clawshanks, is provided with asliding shank 223, having an enlargement 224 at one point, engagingslidingly in a barrel 225, sooured rigidly to the swinging frame 181.Surrounding the shank 223 and confined between the enlargement 22a andthe head of the barrel 225 is a spring 226 tending always,

to thrust the member 222 toward the shoe, and thereby separate theclaws, a cross spring 227 controlling the claws against excessiveswinging apart.

In Fig. 23 in dotted lines is shown the normal position of the claws217, that is, before they have been applied to clamp the shoe in thejack. It will be obvious that, if the shank 223 be forcibly pulled fromthe shoe, this will act, first, to throw the claws tow d eachother, thecontinued movement pulling the claws bodily, as guided by the sleeve219, until the same are brought into the shoe eng ing position shown infull lines in the figures. Preferably, in order to obviate the clawshanks contacting the sides of the shoe uppers, a pair of adjustablestops 229 are provided on cars 230, extending from the guiding sleeve219, these stops being so positioned that, as the retractingaction takesplace, the feet 221 of the claw shanks engage the stops as the clawsreach the desired degree of approach. This'contact is followed by thebodily retraction of the entire claw system.

In order to facilitate the convenient and effective operation of theshoe engaging claws, the following construction may be adopted. Theshank 223 of the claw swinging and retracting member 222 is extendedthrough the head of the barrel 225, and at its extremity provided withcollars The shank and the collars engage with the U- shaped dependingportion 234; of a sliding and rotating sleeve 235, the body of whichsurrounds the barrel 225. l/Vhen the sleeve 235 is moved toward or fromthe shoe, this carries with it the shank 223 and the remainder of theclaw operating parts. Tn order to effect this operation, the followingoperating mechanism-may be employed. The barrel 225 is exteriorlythreaded, as shown at 238. The external sleeve 235, which slides androtates outside of the barrel, is provided with an outstanding-lug 239,between which is fulcrumed' a lever 249, extending out-- i. ardly to apoint of convenient access, and. formed at its innerextremity as acurved rack or gear 241. The teeth on' the operating lever 240 in thethreads surrounding the barrel 225. The gear and screw co-operate in tworespects. tirstgin the manner of a rack and gear to give an extend edmovement to the sleeve and connected parts, and thereafter as screw andnut, to give a further and more forcible action. Thus, when it isdesired to apply and forcibly clamp the claws against the shoe bottom,the handle 24-0 will be pulled from the shoe. The engagement of theteeth 2&1 with the screw 238 causes the sleeve 235 and connected partsto retract, so that, as before described. the claws 217, which swingtogether, are drawn forcibly against the shoe. At this stage I prefer tolock the lever 2&0 so as to hold the adjustment. For this purpose, asshown in Figs. 19 and 20, I provide a lock lever 2&3 adjust-ablyconnected to the operating lever 24:0. The locking lever is fulcrumed onthe pivot of lever 240, and its 8X' tremity is slotted to receive a pin244:, adjustably mounted on the lever 240 by means of a sliding block245, adjustably shiftable by threaded screw 246. The opposite end 247 ofthe lever 243 is adapted to engage with the notch or shoulder 248 ofa'latch lever 249, mounted on the sleeve 235 and brought into-lockingposition either by hand pressure. To accomplish this it is onlynecessary, after the handle 240 has been pulled from the shoe and therelocked, to throw pulled leather at those points,

the handle around counterclockwise, thereby rotating the sleeve285 andall the parts carried by it, the teeth 241 during'this action engagingand traveling around the screw threads 225, thus further retracting theentire claw system to any desired extent. During this action it will beunderstood that the spindle 223 of the claw retracting member 222 isprevented from rotation by the confining of the member 222 between thesleeve 219 and an overlying plate 250.

The tail of the latch lever 249, which in Fig. 19 is shownextendinghorizontally to the left, and which in wiping position willextend horizontally to the rear, is adapted to be contacted and liftedwhen the pedal 48, previously mentioned, is depressed after thecompletion of a shoe.

I have herein. provided means for engaging and retaining against thelast of the shoe the freshly pulled-over edge portions of the upper.Thus, in Figs. 3, 19, 20 and 22 are shown a pair of opposite retainingmembers 258. These will be seen in Fig. 3 to be adjacent the sidepulling grippers so as to be effective in acting upon the freshlyInstead of having the retainers merely press laterally, as indicated inthe figures mentioned, they may be somewhat extended and curved around,as in Fig. 25, so as to actually un derreach the shoe sole and moresecurely re tain the pulled upper in position. There tainer in this casemay be applied bGfOla the puller has released the work and traoted, andas soon as the work is released. the retamer 253, not taking theposition shown in Fig. 25, may first eifect a smooth-- ing or wipingaction of the leather; 'after- I wards holding it in the positionshown.-

In either form the retainers 253 are preferably mounted on resilientshanks 254,-

which in turn are mounted onswinging car rier blo cks 255,pivoted'upon'ears 256 on the head 285 of the toe clamping pad. The

- general plan is to swing the carriers 255, and

thereby place the spring shanks under stress, so'that in themodification" shown in Fig, 25,-

the Wiping and retaining action .descrlbed will actually take place'byreason of the pressure and motion of the spring.

' In order to swing the blocks 255, each is provided with a series'ofteeth-257 facing each other, and between these runs a dou ble rack258,the shank 259 of which ex tends axiallythrough the shank 186 ofthctoe clamp pad head, and thence forwardly and axially through the rotarysupport180, to where at its forward end the shank25t; of-the double rackis provided with a notch or hook by which it may be actuated. Through a'slot 260 formed in the rotary support 180 extends'a finger or elongatedtooth 261, adapted to engage in the notch in the sliding shank259, asbest shown in Figs. 19 and 20." The finger is normally in its inwardposition, but maybe moved out wardly by an unlocking lever262, pivoteciexteriorly to the sleeve 219, and act-ed upon by a spring 263, whichtends to thrust the finger inwardly. i

The action of the described retainer mech anism is as follows. When thelever or han dle 240 is pulled: forwardly to apply the claws 217 to theshoe sole this, as, previ ously explained, causesthe sleeve 219to slideforwardly. Through the engagement of the finger 261 with the slidingshank 259, the latter "and the rack 258 are drawn forwardly,

and the retainers 253 are thrust toward each other and against the upperof the shoe, as already stated. The connections from the unlocking pedal48 may now. be described. Extending upwardly from the pedal 48 is a rod267, which, as will be-clearfrom- Figs. 1 and 3,

is pulled down by' the depression of :the

ing a horizontal arm 270 atits top. This unlocking arm. 270 extendsdirectly beneath the members-which effect the unlocking of .the lever240 by which the shoe engaging claws are applied, and thepawl 212 bywhich the heel spindleis unlocked. The relation of theparts isshown'in-Fig. 19, where the unlocking arm 270 is shown to be in positionbeneath the tail of: the latch lever 249 and the bottom of thepin 214,through which the pawl 212-engages. J p

twill-thus be seen-that I have described a shoe lasting machineincluding the pulling over mechanism also a shoe holding and.

shifting means or ack, also wiping mechanisms,-' the same-embodying theprinciples and=attaining the advantages of the present invention..vSince many matters .of combination, arrangem'ent,=clesign, procedure,structure, and-detail maybe variously modified without departing fromthe novel'principles involved, it is. not-intended tov limit theinvention to such matters except in so far as: set forth the appendedclaims,

What is claimed is:

1. In a. lasting: machine, a plurality of pulling grippersrelatiyelyadjustable; for different shoes, a plurality.- of? separate soleabutments independent of the. grippers but also adjustable for shoes ofdiff'erent: size, or shape and adapted to be directly, contacted by the.shoe sole and give support thereto during the pulling operations, andmeans operative. to! shift the said abutments to proper positions: bytheadjustment of; the grippers.

2'. Lasting. machine as in claim 1; and wherein there is a toeapexripper, and a side gripper at; each side, wit 7 anabut'ment adjace'ntthe toe, and onevnear eachside, each abutment connected to shiftwith its adjacent gripper during. adjustment or renewal of gripperposition; i i

3.'In a lasting machine, pullers, a pulling pedal for closing andretracting. the pullers, a lock device for holding the pedali in position when pulling. a shoe, consisting of a serrated shank (52) attached;to the pedal and slidable in a guide, and; a\ movable engaging piece(57):, and means for at will separating the members of. the lock deviceto releasethe pulled shoe.

4. In a lastingv machine, a side, gripper, an. operating lever or pedal,and connections therefrom to the gripper including equalizing means,said: equalizing means consisting of links on which the gripper floats,permitting rocking movements "and also up and downmovements, whereby thegripper adjusts itself to the resistance. of the work during pulling. VH

5. In a lasting machine, a. side gripper, an operating lever or pedal,and connections therefrom to the gripper including equalizing means, soconstructed and. arranged that the gripper is yieldingly held in normalposition but capable of rooking and also moving up and down, whereby thegripper adjusts itself to the resistance of the work pulling.

' 6. in a lasting "machine, a gripper, a gripper carrier, as 136, 136 aretracting rod separate from the carrier, said rod so arranged andconnected: with' the gripper that upon its retraction it first closes"and then retracts the gripper, and'fl oating connections between the"carrier and gripper. 7.111 a lasting machine, a gripper, a grippercarrier (136, 136*), means for closing the gripper and retracting thecarrier and gripper, and; floating connections hetween the carrierandgripper, comprising a rocker mounted on the carrier, links from therocker ends to the gripper ends, and yielding means holding the rockerand gripperin normal position. 8l1n a lasting machine, a gripper, agripper carrier (136,13W), means for closing the gripper and retractingthe carrier ego-s72 gripper, and, floating connections between thecarrier and gripper, comprising.

a rocker mounted on the carrier, links from the. rockerendsto thegripper ends, a spring permitting the lower end of rocker and gripper toretract relatively more than the upper, and a rigid stop opposed to saidspring.

9-. a lasting machine a gripper, a gripper carrier (136, 136 means forclosing, the gripper and retracting the carrier and gripper, andfloating connections be,- tweenthe carrier and gripper, comprising a.rocker mounted on the carrier, links from the rocker-ends to the gripperends, a spring permitting the gripper to rise during pulling, and a.rigid stop opposed to said spring.

10. In a lasting machme, a gripper, a gripper'carrier (136,136P), means.for closing. the gripper and retracting the carrier and gripper, andfloating connections between the carrier and gripper, comprising arocker mounted on the carrier, links from the rocker ends to the gripperends, yielding means to hold the rocker in normal position and otheryielding means to hold the links in. normal position.

11. In a lasting machine having pulling grippers at the sides of theshoe and a toe gripper, a toe gripper carrier, a front jaw securedthereon, a swinging rear jaw member arranged transversely of the. frontjaw and pivoted directly upon the front jaw, said member at one side ofits pivot constituting the rear jaw and at the other side constitutingan extension, a tail or pull rod connected to said. extension, and meansto pull said rod rearwardly to close the jaws and retract the gripper.

12. In a lasting machine a toe gripper and two side grippers, a swingingframe carrying the toe gripper at its top and adapted to swingsymmetrically across to reverse the machine" for right and left shoes,said frame comprising"- a laterally swinging, bar at the front a carrierfor the toe gripper, extending rearwardly from the upper part of saidbar, and. a swinging adjustable rod at the rear, adapted to alter thetilt of the toe gripper, and a toe abutment carried by said frame.

In a lasting machine a toe gripper and two side grippers, a swingingframe carrying the toe gripper at its top and adapted to swingsymmetrically across to reverse the machine for right and left sh oes, ashiftable carrier for holding right and left shoes alternately, andmeans whereby the shifting of the shoe carrier acts to reverse saidframe afterthe lasting of each shoe.

14'. In a lasting machine a toe gripper and two side grippers, aswinging frame carrying the toe gripper at its top and adapted to swingsymmetrically across to reverse the inachineffor right and left shoes, arock shaft carryingvv each side gripper, permitting it to swing acrossfor reversal, a rock shaft for the frame, said three shafts extendingrearwardly, and means actuated by the swinging of said frame forautomatically reversing the position of the two side grippers,consisting of rock arms on said three shafts and resilient connectionsbetween said rock arms.

15. In a lasting machine a shoe abutment, pulling mechanism for pullingover a shoe engaged on said abutment, a jack adapted to be shifted tothe shoe after the pulling, having shoe engaging or clamping meansbodily swingable on the jack about an axis near the toe end of the shoe.

16. In a lasting machine a shoe abutment, pulling mechanism for pullingover a shoe engaged on said abutment, a jack adapted to be shifted tothe shoe after the pulling, having shoe engaging or clamping meansbodily swingable on the jack about an axis near the toe end of the shoe,the jack being adapted to be swung front and down until the shoe toepoints forward, whereby the clamping means and shoe may then be swunghorizontally to bring the shoe to wiping position.

17. In alasting machine pulling mechanism comprising grippers shiftableto reverse the machine for right and left shoes, a jack having shoeengaging meansand shiftable from pulling to wiping position and return,and connections operated by the shifting of the jack for reversing thepulling mechanism.

18. Machine as in claim 17 and wherein the reversing connectionscomprise cooperating cam members on the jack and pulling mechanism, anda switch device automatically reversible on each operation.

19. In a lasting machine pulling mechsignature hereto.

anism, a jack adapted to engage each pulled shoe and then shift towiping position, clamping means on the jackfor holding the shoe duringshifting and wiping, and means for unclamping the shoe after wiping.

20. Machine as in claim 19 and wherein the shoe engaging and clampingmeans. comprises a toe engager and means for locking 7 ing a toeengaging pad, hold-down hooks, a device for applying said pad and hooksto clamp the shoe, and a member adapted to be engaged with andpressedwup on the edge of the pulled leather to hold it duringtheshifting of the jack, and means for wiping the shoe while held in theshifted jack.

machine pulling over 22. Machineas in claim 21 and wherein the leatherholding member is a resilient. s Q

23.- Machine as in claim 21 and wherein finger.

the leather holding member is'a resilient v finger shiftable'to and fromthe shoe edge.

2l. Machine as in claim 21 and wherein the leather holding member is a'resilient finger shiftable to and from the shoe edge, and

having connections operatedv by the act ofapplying the pad and hooks forshifting it into pressing engagement upon the pulled leather. 7 j

In testimony whereof, I have aflixed my ANGELO PERRL

